Brush Cherry Dropping Leaves

Oysterowl83

Howdy All,

Having a problem with my brush cherry. Its dropping its leaves. The leaves that its dropping are 50% die back, and 50% fresh looking I would say. Its not completely shedding..but dropping enough where I see a differance meaning more leaves in the soil and less lushness apparent in the tree. I keep the tree in a 70 degree room that keeps about 40% humidty. I have a Halogen lighting track system about 1 foot over the tree. I top water it to keep it not too wet..and just a tiny bit more on the dry side just like I do outdoors in the summer. Looking for some troubleshooting advice.

Thanks,
Anthony*

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bmor

Hi Oysterowl83---Last fall when I brought my potensai brush cherry inside, I soon noticed a signicant amount of leaves dying and the dieback on my lower branches was substantial. I believe that Scale was the culprit (assisted from the stress caused from the move indoors). Some diligence with insecticidal soap and my tweezers helped save mine(though it's a long way from even potensai now ). Have a look under the leaves and see if you have any.
Best of luck
B

Oysterowl83

I don't seem to see anything on the backs of the leaves. They all look just plain green to me. Anything specfic to look for? I was also reading that trees sometimes shed leaves due to a drought. Do you think when it comes to watering it next time I should submerge it? Thinking maybe the rootball is a bit dry? What else do u think it could be?

Anthony*

BonsaiGreenhorn

Hope things work out for you man, unfortunetly i know virtually nothing about brush cherry's, the picture makes me interested in them though.

Good Luck
-Evan

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TreeBay

It's been awhile since I have grown these. I had tried them as garden shrubs here but they just barely couldn't take overwintering without protection. Brush Cherry is evergreen, but it isn't unusual for evergreens (broadleaf or otherwise) drop a percentage 10-33% or so of their needles or leaves within a month or so. They need periodic replacement. Needles might live 3 years at most. Usually in cultivation they are plucked after the second year if not before. For the brush cherry I am not sure of the life of the foliage, but it isn't forever! It wasn't unusual come spring to see a good pile of dropped leaves around the base of the garden plants if I hadn't been dilligent about cleanup.

Now it's a much better sign if the tree drops the foliage than if it browns and stays attached. That is a red flag situation.

But, you should be losing the older leaves not the newest ones: If I remember correctly, the new brush cherry leaves emerge red. Are you saying that you are losing a roughly equal number of new and old leaves?

Regards,

Matt

Brush Cherry Cryogeneticist

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Oysterowl83

Hi Matt,

The leaves that are falling are brown die back and the fresh leaves are very very dark green..Looks like older foilage to me. I am still developing many new tiny leaves that vary from red to very light green.

Anthony*